From Scraps to Supplements: Feeding City Hens on a Budget

Feed is the biggest recurring cost of keeping backyard hens, and in the city, where you can't let them free-range across an acre of pasture, that cost lands entirely on your shopping list. The good news is that you can trim it meaningfully without compromising your flock's health, as long as you understand what hens actually need and what scraps can and can't replace.

Start with the non-negotiable: a complete layer feed. Whether pelleted, crumbled, or mash, a quality layer ration is formulated to deliver the protein, calcium, and micronutrients hens need for steady egg production. Treats and scraps should make up no more than about ten percent of the diet. Go beyond that, and you risk nutrient gaps, soft eggshells, and fat hens that stop laying. Think of scraps as entertainment and variety, not as a feed substitute.

Smart Scrap Choices

The best kitchen scraps for chickens are ones that add nutrition or enrichment without diluting the ration. Vegetable peels, carrot tops, wilted greens, apple cores, and melon rinds all work well. Cooked rice, pasta, and oatmeal are fine in small amounts. Garden extras like bolted lettuce, tomato trimmings, and comfrey leaves are excellent. Crushed eggshells, baked and ground, are a free calcium supplement your hens will happily peck.

What to avoid: avocado (the pit and skin are toxic), raw dried beans, onion and garlic in large amounts, moldy or spoiled food, and anything salty or oily. Chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol are off the menu. Citrus is debated, but most keepers skip it since hens rarely eat it anyway. Also skip meat scraps if rats are a concern in your neighborhood, which in most cities they are.

Fermenting feed is another budget-friendly trick. Soaking layer pellets in water for a day or two lets beneficial bacteria pre-digest the grain, which some keepers find improves digestion and stretches the feed slightly. It also adds moisture, which helps in hot weather. Start with a small jar, keep it covered, and use it within a few days.

Stretching the Feed Dollar

Buy in bulk if you have dry storage. A 50-pound bag of layer pellets costs far less per pound than small bags, and a metal trash can with a tight lid keeps it fresh and rodent-proof. Split a bulk order with a neighbor who also keeps hens. Watch for seasonal sales at farm stores, and store feed in a cool, dry place to prevent mold and nutrient loss.

Finally, grow a little chicken food. A window box of lettuce, a pot of herbs, or a tray of sprouted grains gives your hens fresh greens year-round for pennies. None of this replaces a balanced ration, but together these habits can shave a real chunk off your monthly feed bill while keeping your city hens healthy and entertained.